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(N0 Mode 1.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. W. GILES.

VELO GIPEDE.

Patented Jan. 17,188 2.

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Phnlo-Lilhngmpllur, Washington. 0. c

(No Model.)

3 Shets'-Sheet 2. W; W. GILES. I

VELOGIPEDE;

Patented Jan. 17,1882.

(No Model.) I 3 Sheet-Shqet a.

W. GILES.

v VELOGIPEDE.

No. 252,455. Patented Jan. 17,1882.

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFF CE.

WILLIAM GILES, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

VELbCtPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 252,455, dated January 17, 1882.

Application filed October 31, 188i.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WHEATON GILES, of Washington, in the District of O- lum'bia, have ihvented a new and useful Improvement in Veloeipedes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and accurate description of the same.

This invention relates to that class of velocipedes which have more than two wheels-- commonly three wheels-and known as tricycles, and it has special reference to that description'of tricycle for which Letters Patent were issued to me January 11, 1881, wherein the propelling power derived from the muscular action of the legs is supplemented by hand-" levers to be worked by the hands and arms, and the steering-gear is controlled by movements of the seat in a plane transverse to the line of progression.

The improvements hereinafter particularly described relate, first, to the manner of controlling the steering-gear by the movement of a lever independent of the seat in a plane transverse to the line of progression; second,

.in the manner of operating the brake by means ;lar elevation, showing a modification. .Fig. 5 .is a plan'ot' the same.

Fig. 6 isa perspective detail. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the axle. Fig.8 is longitudinal section ot' a wheel-hub.

.Fig. 9 is a perspective, showing-adjustability of the side arms.

- Aflisthe frame of my machine, and B B are themain supporting-wheels. Ois the steering track-wheels.

The frame A is preferably made curved or crescent-shaped with the seat placed at the rc-entrant portion, and the axles for the wheels located at or near the extremities. The advantage of employing a frame of this form is in thefa'eility it afiords for placing the seat low vtached to the frame.

(No model.)

down and the driving crank-shaft below the level of the wheels axis; but as for some reasons it is not always desirable to be near'the ground it is not essential that the frame shall be ofthe form shown.

- At the center ot' the frame A there is a suitable box-bearing, a, to receive the end of the arm D of the trailing-wheel O. This arm I prefer to make tubular, not only for the purpose of securing the greatest strength in proportion to the material employed, but to afford a protected way for the passage of the cord orwire whereby the brake E may be operated. The forward end of the arm I) rests and turns in the box a, and at a point nearer the wheel 0 there is another box, I, for said arm, and said box I) is supported by braces d, which are at- A collar, 0, upon the arm D above the box-b, will prevent eudwise slip of said box on the arm. The brace-rods cl neednot be heavy, because the strain upon them is entirely tensile.

With this organization it will be observed that the machine has three points of support upon the ground, and that the arm of then'ear wheel is oblique to the horizon, so that if said arm be partly rotated the direction of the plane of the wheel 0 will be changed as to the planes of the wheels B Bthat is to say, when the wheel O stands uprightits plane will be vertical and parallel with the planes of wheels B B, but

when the arm D is partly rotated the plane of wheel 0 becomes inclined and oblique to the planesof wheels B B. It therefore maybe caused to steer the vehicle by employ iuginstrumentalities whereby the rider can control the position of thewheel U. This control I propose to effect by placing said arm in immediatecontact with the person of the rider, so that by swaying his body to the right or left he may cause said arm to be rotated in a corre spending direction; There are several ways for accomplishing this connection. F may be mounted directly upon the end of the arm D, so that the portions of it on each side of said arm will act as levers to receive the riders weight as he leans to the right or left; or the seat may be rigid, and the arm D may be provided with two arms orlevers, which extend upward and rest against the rider-s sides; orif, as will sometimes be the case, it is The seat ICO desirable to provide for a larger range of motion than is convenient to give it by a singledirect-acting lever like the tipping seat, then a multiplying device may be interposed between the prime lever in contact with the person and the arm D. Such a device is shown in Fig. 2, wherein the riderssides are in contact with the arms G G, which are attached to the shaft H, and capable of imparting a rotating motion to it. The forward end of the shaft H is bent downward, as at J,and engages with the outer end of an arm, I, which projects laterally from the arm D. Bythis means therelative motions of the shafts H and D may be varied, because the greater the relative length of crank part of H the greater will be the relative movement .of the arm D.

It is'highly important in a machine employing both hands and feet for its propulsion that the brake may be controlled otherwise than by hands or feet, and I have therefore provided a vibrating lever behindthe seat, which, Wilt n the body leans backward, will be caused to draw forward the cord or rod J, whereby the brake E is operated. This lever is shown .in the drawings at K, and bearing at its top the side arms, G G. It is pivoted transversely to the rock-shaft H, and therefore does double duty as a steering-lever when passed sidewise and a brake-lever when pressed backward-'5 but it is evident that these separate functions may be exercised by separate levers, if desired.

In the machine as shown in the drawings the foot -treadles are below the level of the wheels axis, and the frame A' is extended forward and downward far enough to receive the boxes g, in which the treadlecrank-shaft L revolves. The shaft L is bent so as to constitute cranks for the feet and also for the hand lever in; but as these parts do not in themselves present novelty in this case no further description is required;

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are introduced merely for thepurpose of showing how my vibrating back to operate. the brake and my side braces moving in a plane transverse to the line of progression may be applied to a machine having a steering-wheel mounted upon an arm with a vertical pivot.

The rock-shaft H and vibrating arm 70 are the same as above described, butthe'shaft H,

instead of acting to rotate the trailing-wheel arm 0, acts upon a bell-crank, N, and through said bell-crank and the rod 19 upon the short laterally-projectin g tiller-arm A, which controls the steering-wheel and its spindle.-

The seat F may be mounted upon two adjustable rods,fj', so that it may be raised and lowered, as desired, and springs may be applied to it in the usual way, as desired.

The frame may be constructed with a drooping axle, as shown in Fig 7, and that form will impart strength by relieving the joint between the axle part and the reach from the torsion to which it is subjected in the ordinary form, where the bent part of said axle is in a horizontal plane.

.wheel B, andthe latter is then free.

The cross-arm 1? serves as supports for the hand-levers M.

In Fig.8 the structure of the hub of the wheel B is shown. The inner face of said hub is furnished with a circular row ofratchet-teeth,

t, and a hub, R, similarly furnished, is mountedable mechanism, whereby it may be drawn away from and out of engagement with the If both wheels Bare provided with driving-chains,the driving power will be transmitted to both wheels while the machine is running in a straight course; but in passing around curves the inner wheel will be the driver, and the outer wheel will run faster than its drivinghub R. Said hub willthen give back automatically to let the ratchet teeth pass each other.

In Fig. 9 adjustability of the arms GG, both vertically and horizontally, is shown.

In Fig. 3 lever K is shown with ajoint at u, so that, when said lever moves laterally with the shaft H, its extremity may remain in line with the arm D.

Having described my invention, what I claim an oblique axis, and a steering-wheel mounted on said arm at its extremity, combined with means .whereby movements of the riders body in a vertical plane transverse to the line of progression will cause a rotation of said arm and control of the steering-wheel, as set forth.

2. In a tricycle, an arm projecting from the frame and capable of partial rotation around an oblique axis, and a steering-wheelmounted on said arm at-its extremity, combined with a side lever independent of the seat and moving on a horizontal axis, against which the rider leans in a vertical plane transverse to the line of progression, whereby said arm may be rotated and the steering-wheel controlled, as set forth.

3. In a tricycle, a steeringwheel mounted at the outer end of an oblique arm which is capable of partial revolution onits axis, whereby the plane of said wheel can be parallel with the planes of the main bearing-wheels or be deflected in either direction therefrom, combined with a side lever against which the rider leans in a plane transverse to the line of progression, and a multiplying device interposed between said side lever and said oblique arm to increase the relative motion of the latter and control the steering-wheel, as set forth.

4. Ina tricycle, a'steerin'g-wheel, O, mounted at the extremity of an oblique arm, I), which is capable of partial revolution upon its axis, and provided with the arm I, combined with the rock-shaft having one end turned downward and engaged with said arm Land the side braces, G, mounted upon said rock-shaft,whereby the rider may control the steering-wheel by swaying his body in a plane transverse to the box, a, attached to said frame,an oblique arm,

D, which turns in said box at its forward end and bears the steering-wheelO at its rear end,

, 6. In a, tricycle, a brake -1ever, E, and its actuating cord or rod, combined with a vibrating lever placed sothat said brake will be pressed against the wheel by a backward motion of the riders body in contact with said vibrating lever.

7. In a tricycle, a steering-wheel and a brake, combined with a rock-shaft, H, a lever, K, pivoted thereon and extending up near the rider, and provided with side arms or braces, G, and means for connecting said rock-shaft and lever with the steering gear and brake respective] y, whereby the same lever, K, may be caused to actuate the steering-gearorthe brake at will. i

8. In a tricycle, a frame, A, having its ends bent forward to receive and hold the axles for the wheels and treadle-shaft in advance of the seat, combined with a rearwardprojecting arm oblique to the horizon, and capable of partial rotation on its axis to control a steeringwheel mounted on the rear end of said arm.

9. In a tricycle, the wheel B, provided with ratchet teeth t, combined with a ratchet-hub, R, in engagement therewith, and the drivingchain S on said hub R, and motor crank-shalt below the level of said hub, whereby the wheel B may be liberated from the driving powerby withdrawing said hub R from engagement, as set forth.

10. In a tricycle, a steering gear operated by movements of the riders body in a plane transverse to the line of progression, combined with the side arms, G, adjustable vertically and horizontally, so as to be fitted to the rider, as

set forth.

, 11. In a tricycle, the steering-gearing, with its controlling-shaft H, combined with the lever K pivoted to said shaft and provided with the joint at u, for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM W; GILES. 

